Day 8 :: Trees

To shift my attention from the fall landscape I'm missing back in Michigan, I've decided to appreciate the trees right outside our door.

Starting in our very own backyard we have a beast of a tree. A couple months ago we found out it's a Black Acacia. And it was out of control. (So much so, our neighbor requested in writing that we have it trimmed - he was worried it would fall on his house during a storm.) So we hired a few tree trimmers to give that guy some definition. He's a still a beast, but a more shapely beast.













We've also got what we've always referred to as a Spikey Tree (see below). I guess the technical name is Pachira quinata or Pochote, which we also learned from our tree trimmers. Apparently these trees are really rare, and tend to impress all the landscapers who visit our yard. !!

And while not technically ours, the neighbors have a Birch tree in their yard, which is a real treat since I've never seen any others out here. I love the shuffly sound the leaves make when they blow in the wind.

Over the weekend we went on a walk and Emily asked, "Uh, Mama do you know what that tree is? It is bamboo." Who knew she could identify those!? Not me.

Soon after that we passed by a Eucalyptus tree, and she plugged her nose and said "Eww, gross." (We have a million seeded Eucalyptus trees in the bay area, and rumor has it - it's a rumor because I'm too lazy to google it - that they aren't native to this area and actually have an aggressive growing pattern, which threatens some of our local greenery. Yikes.)

Come to think of it, Emily's good at pointing out palm trees too, and wondering about their coconuts.

Most of these trees I couldn't identify until adulthood. So it's pretty cool she's growing up thinking they're just a normal part of nature. Hopefully, with time, we'll help her appreciate how lucky she is to have them at her fingertips.

And there you have it. That's a round-up of our local trees.